Automatic gun.



No. 781,503. PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905. W. H. DRIGGS.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLICATION I'ILED MAR. 26, 1903.

PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

W. H. BRIGGS.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

3 T B E H S S T PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

W. H. BRIGGS.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

11 SHEET5-SHEBT 4.

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No. 781,503. PATBNTED JAN. 31, 1905. W. H. BRIGGS. AUTOMATIC GUN. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 5- PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

'' W. H. DRIGGS.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

. QB ay MN hi o k I I I I No. 781,503. PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905. W. H. DRIGGS.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

BIG

' No. 781,503. PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905. W. H. BRIGGS.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLICATION 1-11.21) MAR 26 1903 11 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

No. 781,503. PATENTED'JAN. 81, 1906.

W. H. BRIGGS.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

11 SHEETS SHEET 9.

k4 111T 2 ,2233 4276 R 7 i 1% 5 KX/A No. 781,503. PATENTED JAN.'s1, 1905.

WQH. BRIGGS. AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

11 SHEETSSHBET 10.

Human [oz PATENTED JAN. 3 1, 1905.

W. H. BRIGGS.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

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- gun.

UNITED STATES Patented January 31, 1905.

PATENT Orrrcs.

WILLIAM HALE DRIGGS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF'v COLUMBIA, AS-

SIGNOR TO THE DRIGGS SEABURY ORDNANGE CORPORATION, OF

SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA/X CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATEC GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,503, dated J anuary 31, 1905.

To (til whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WI LIAM HALE DRIGGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Automatic Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to-be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic guns, and especially automatic guns of small caliber; and it consists ofcertain novel features that will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is'a vertical section. through the casing along the line 1 1 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section through the easing along the broken line 2 2 f Fig. 1, the gun and breech-block and other mechanism contained in the casing being shown in plan. Fig. 3 shows a section along the broken line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through the gun and easing on a smaller scale, parts .being shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the end of the water-jacket near the muzzle of the gun with the parts contained therein, the same being a continuation of the left end of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows a cross-section along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 and looking in the directiouof the arrows, the scale being larger than in Fig. 4. Fig. 6' is a detail sectional view showing the construction of the hopper. Fig. 7 is a transverse section showing the mode of feeding the cartridges to the gun. This section is taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the. hopper and of the breech of the Fig. 9 is a detail showing in perspective one of the pivoted plates used to obstruct the feed of the cartridges until the parts are Application filed March 26, 1903. Serial No. 149,757.

in the proper position. Figs. 10 and 11 are details showing in perspective the rocking toe for feeding the cartridges singly to the gun. Fig. 12 is a detail showingin perspective the catch for holding the breech-block in the open position and for releasing same at the proper time. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the breech-block, showing the firingpin cocked and the sear in engagement therewith. Fig. 14 is a central vertical section through the breech-block, showing the firing: pin and sear in the position assumed after the gun has been fired. Fig. 15 is a. detail showing the sear in perspective. Fig. 16 is a detail of the ejector. Fig. 17 is a detail showing the cocking-plate. Fig. 18 is a detail showing the engagement of the catch and eccentric and illustrates the manner in which the breech is held open after the gun recoils and during the operation of loading. Fig. 19 represents a side elevation of the gun, parts being broken away and parts being omitted. Fig. 29 is a detail showing the mechanism for running the gun in and out by v hand so asto start the firing, and Fig. 21 is a section along the line 21 21 of Fig. 20 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

A represents the body of the gun, which is provided with a chambered breech-A, a downwardly projecting lug A and an upward extension A The chamber of the breech is walled over near its rear end, as at A. The gun is mounted in the casing B, the forward portion of which, B, is used as a water-jacket. The breech and muzzle of the gun are cylindrical and fit close in the stuffing-boxes 7) and 6 (see Fig. 4 and Fig. A) so that the gun may recoil through the water-jacket. The recoil of the gun is positively limitedby means of the bands (1. and a spring-butler (t attached.

thereto, which brings upi against the casing when the gun has recoiled to the predetermined limit. The gun is restored to the initial position by means of the spring C, which is connected to the bolt C fast to the lug A on the breech of the gun. This pin is con nected to said lug by a bayonet-joint arrangement (a (Shown in Fig. 4..) The springC is inclosed in a hollow tube C, which passes through the water-jacket, and the forward end of the spring is connected to a yoke having a nut 0" splined, as at a, in the tube C, in which nut the screw C engages. This screw is turned by means of the butterflyhead C, and thus the tension of the spring may be adjusted as desired. Thus it will be seen that the gun recoils through glands in the water-jacket and is brought back to the initial position by means of the spring C.

The breech-block D is mounted in the chamber in the breech of the gun and is provided with ribs (Z, which engage in the grooves a" between the ribs 11" on the inner walls of the gun-breech when the breechsbloek is in the closed position. To open the breech, the breech-block is moved downward and is automatically held in the rear position after full recoil, while to close the breech the block is brought forward by a spring and is cammed up into the locked position, as will now be described. The breech-block is provided with two downwardly-projecting lugs D, in which lugs is journaled the. shaft E carrying the two eccentrics E and E, which rest on the fioor of the casing. (See Fig. 7.) The eccentric E carries a wrist-pin f, to which the hook F is connected,the said hook engaging the end of a coil-spring F, which spring projects forward into the tubeF- passing through the water-jacket. The tension of this spring is adjusted in a similar way to the tension on the spring 0, which has already been fully 'described. The tension on this spring F tends" to bring the eccentric E to, the initial position, with the breech closed, as shown in Fig.

i 1, and the breech-block is opened and held shown in Fig. 2. This plate has a spring-arm y, that normally engages in a notch in thecasing B. It is also provided with an arm G, having a holding-face g, adapted to engage the face a of the stud E on the eccentric E,

as shown in Fig. 18,-the eccentric then beingin the position indicated in Fig. 3 and the breech being open. When the gun counterrecoils, the stud a strikes the rounded face of the arm of the plate Gr. rocks the said plate slightly about its pivot g, and the stud rides under the said arm without affecting the operation of any of the parts. As the gun recoils the wrist-pin a" on the arm E. which pro ects from and 1s Integral with the eccen-- tric'E, strikes the shoulder. b on the casing,

and further movement rearward of the gun rocks the eccentric downt'o the position indicated in Fig. 3, causing the shaft E to pull the breech-block downward out'of engagement with the grooves of the breech-block chamber of the gun. At the same time the head ll. of the firing-pin is engaged by the catch 1' of the plate K, which plate is normally pressed upward about its pivot l" by means of the spring K. The said plate K has an arm Zr" abut-ting against the casing, as shown in Fig. 3, and also an inclined face 1' near the forward end adapted to be struck by the lug 1 on the breech-block I) for releasing the firing-pin, as will be hereinafter more fully described. When the gun carrying the breech-block has reached the rearward position, the spring g throws the locking-arm g of the plate G in front of the shoulder a on the pin E fast to the eccentric E, and thus the breech-block is held against motion forward, while at the same time the gun itself is free to return to the initial position under the action of the spring C. As the gun nears the closed position, having in the meantime been loaded, as will' be hereinafter described, the pin (6 carried by the breech of the gun, strikes the arm g of the plate Gr, rocks the same against the action of the spring g, and causes the face g* to release the shoulder a, (see Figs. 7 and 18,) thus allowing the spring F to rock the eccentric E and with it the shaft E but this eccentric cannot be rocked by the spring F until the ribs (Z register with the grooves a in the gun-breech. The-nose of the breech-block is so shaped, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 13, that the face (Z must strike the face a ,on the gun before the block can be. cammed up to the locked position. As soon as the block has been dragged far enough forward by the spring F to cause the ribs d to register with the grooves 64 the tension of the said spring will rock the eccentric and will cam the block up into the locked position, as shown in Fig. 4:. As the breech-block moves forward the shoulder k on the plate K holds the head H of the firing-pin, thus cocking the latter, and when the lug d on the breechblock strikes the inclined face i of the plate the catch is is released from the head 12 of the firing-pin; but just before this is done the sear J passes in front of the flange on the head of the firing-pin, and thus holds the same, as shown in Fig. 13, the arm J of the sear being normally pressed upward by the action of the spring J causing the face j on said arm to engage the flange if, as before stated. The sear is pivoted to the breechblock, as at J and is on the opposite side of the firing-pin from the plate K, already referred to. i

The firing mechanism is shown in detail in Fig. 4 and Fig. 14, the pin being of the rebounding type, so as to clear the head of the breech-block after the gun is fired, and thus prevent premature discharge or injury to the pin. This is accomplished by having the rings A and It loose on .the body of the pin H and between which rings is a firing-spring H- um. der compression. The forward ring it is. pressed by the spring against a shoulder b of the breech-block, and the rear-ring it also engages part of the breech-block. After the firing-pin has been cooked and released the inertia of the pin will carry it forward far enough to strike the primer of the cartridge before the tension of the spring causes the head of the firing-pin to be withdrawn into its chamber in the breech-block, as shown in Fig. 14. For convenience of assembling the rear end of the firing-pin is made in the form of asleeve k screwed onto the main body, and this sleeve .pass'es through a bushing 7f, screwed in. the

breech-block. When the breech-block reaches the closed position, the gun may be fired either single fire by hand or automatically. To fire single fire by hand, pull back on the trigger U when the breech is closed. This will cause the block U to press the sear downward and release the firing-pin; or by keeping the trigger in the rear position the gun will fire auto: maticallywhen the breech is closed. To prevent accidents', the block U is normally pressed forward to the inoperative position by means of the spring U on the bar U, which connects the trigger U? with the said block. The trig- Ger-guard B serves also as a catch to hold the hinged door B in the closed position, and thus keep the end of the casing closed.

To get rid of the. empty cartridge-case, ex-

tractors R are provided on the front of the breech-block, which extractors are preferably made in two segments with a slot between, into which slot the free end t of the ejector T is automatically thrown on account of recoil. This ejector (shown in detail in Fig. 16) is in the form of a curved spring having an operating-lug t', a shoulder t adapted to engage the pint on the breech-block, and a swinging arm 2? with a catch t adapted to engage in the recess in the breech-block, as shown in Fig. 14. The arm t is pressed under the pin 25 and.the catch t is swung into its recess, and thus the ejector is firmly held in place, but at the same time may be readily removed or assembled should occasion require. v l

The operation of the ejector is as follows: When the gun is fired, it carries the breechblock with it an recoil until-theb'reech-block is cammed downward. Now on counter-recoil the breech-block remains fast; but the gun moving forward causes the lug a on the transom A over the breech-block to strike the lug t on the ejector. This will give a 'quick blow to the ejector, causing the arm t to knock the cartridge out of the extractor, whence it will drop through the opening in the bottom of the frame. Ordinarily the cartridge is dropped out; but in case it should get jammed in the extractor thecartri'dgecase will be positively ejected by the ejector, as hereinbefore described. It will be obvious that the extractors will grip the rim' of the cartridge-case as the breech-block is cammed in the first operation of opening the breech and that when the breech-block is held fast and the gun moves forward the empty cartridge-case will be dragged out of the powder-chamber. V

I have thus described the opening and closing of the breech, the firing of the gun, and the ejection of the empty cartridge-case.- The loading apparatus will now be described.

socket fits over the cylindrical lug-b on the part B- of the casing B. The hopper is rev'olubly connected to the base by means of the bolt N (See Fig. 6.) To the outer edge of the hopper is secured a rack M having teeth m", which teeth have faces m and m with a flat face m between the two, as shown in- Fig. 8. The base-plate M of the hopper has a curved tongue m with a throat M to receive the cartridges, which throat opens into the throat H in the frame B. Between each firethe hopper is rotated one tooth, causing the tongue in? to pass over another cartridge, allowing the cartridge to fall in through the throat -M, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.

7. This step-by-step motion is given to thehopper by means of the arm N, which is pivoted, as at a, tothe projection A on the gun, and it carries a rounded face 12., an engaging face W7, and a locking face 12 This arm is normally drawn upward to the position shown in Fig. '3 by means of the spring N, attached to the lug a on the projection A This pro- When the gun jection also carries a pin a is fired, this arm N recoils to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the curved face 92. on the arm N then passing under one of the teeth on the hopper, the spring N being of light tension and readily yielding.

When the gun returns on account of recoil, the face if strikes the face m of one of the teeth m of the hopper (see Fig. 8) and rotates the hopper through the angle subtended by one tooth. At the same time the arm N will project into the space between'two teethand abutting against the flat face m will prevent the hopper from turning any farther than a single tooth. To steady the hopper in place while the arm N is out of operative relation with the teeth on the edge of the,hopper, 1

provide a spring-stop m, which is held in a bracket M, attached to the base plate m and engages in notches m in the base of the hop:

per, which notches" have inclined edges, so'

that the stop m automatically rides out of per revolves the lower cartridges of each column will roll along the base-plate M and Iio these notches. It will be seen that as the hop the tongue m will lift the column of cartridges from off of the lower cartridge, allowing this to fall into the throat M and thence to pass to the breech of the gun. Thus one time the empty cartridge --case has dropped through the opening between the blades. ()n counter-recoil the pin a on the gun causes the block P to feed another cartridge above cartridge from the bottom of each radial l the blades, and it remains resting on these chamber will be fed to the gun during each revolution of the hopper, so that the feed will be continuous as long as there are cartridges in the hopper. To prevent the cartridges from crowding down into the breech of the the gun, I provide the block P, which is journaled on pins 7) and has an arm P normally adapted to project down and block the throat B of the frame, as shown in Fig. 7. This block is curved, as at P between the arms P and P to receive a single cartridge when the block is rocked upward and then to deposit the single cartridge in the breech of the gun when the block is rock'ed down again. The block is rocked by means of a pin a on the gun which engages in the camgroove 2 of the block P. As the gun recoils, this pin rocks the block up and allows it to receive one cartridge in the groove I and on counter-recoil the pin locks the block down again, depositing the cartridge on top of the guard-plates Q. These plates open and'close like the blades of a pair ofv scissors and are operated by the breech-block, as will now be described. There are two of these blades Q and Q, both substantially alike, but having the parts reversed and one mounted above the other. One ofthe blades is shown in detail in Fig. 9. Each of these blades has a long journal g, which is mounted in the groove in the side of the breech of the gun, as shown in Fig. 2, and the two blades are normally pressed together by means of a loop-spring Q", which passes over the top of the breech of .the gun and engages in holes 9 in the blades. Each of the blades is provided with ribs or flanges (1 g and 1f, which not only serve to stiffen the blades, but the former prevents'the blades from closing in too far, while the flanges (1 are for the face of breech-block to work on in loading, and the flange g limits th opening of the plate. The plate swingsin and out of the slot in the side of the gun-breech, as shown in Fig. 7. It will be seen that if a cartridge is fed above these plates it will remain resting thereon until the plates are open; and

this is accomplished by the action of the breech-block, as will be hereinafter described.

these grooves will hold the blades in the open position against the action of the spring Q until when on counter-recoil the rear end of the blades passes the shoulder B. Then the blades will snap to the closed position under the influence of the spring Q". In the meani again.

blades until the breech-block starts forward As soon as the edgesd at the side of the nose of the breech-block strike the camfaces Q3 on the plates Q, and Q, these plates are spread apart and the breech-block shoves the cartridge home.

In order that the parts may be put in posi tion for automatic firing, it will be necessary to move the gun-barrel to the rear one or more times before firing begins. This is accomplished by the mechanism shown in Figs. 19 to 21, in which the water-jacket B, inclosing the gun, is mounted on the trunnions V, supported on the mount W beneath the cap-square W. Any desired form of mount may be used, so that details of the mount are omitted. Fig. 19 shows the left side of the gun; but on the opposite side of the gun andpassing through the hollow trunnion is a shaft X carrying the crank X, provided with a handle X. The end of=this shaft is made angular, as at (r, to fit in a socket in the hub of the gear X which gear may beattached to the shaft X by means of a cotterpin X or in any other convenient way. This gear X is in segmental form, as shown in Fig. 21', and is so constructed that when the handle X is down, as indicated in Fig. 19, it will be out of engagement with the rack,Y', secured to or integral with the sleeve Y on the gun-barrel. Thus the gun-barrel may normally recoil without any engagement with the gear X. In beginning the operation of firing, however, it will be necessary to move the gun-barrel one or more times to the rear, in which case the handle X is swung upward in the direction of the arrow in Figs. 19 and 21, causing the teeth on said gear to engage in the teeth of themack Y and moving the gun to the rear to the desired distance. As soon as the gun-barrel has been moved far enough to the rear the teeth of the gear will become disengaged from those of the rack, allowing the spring 0 to restore the barrel to the initial position. The cycle of operations then is as follows: Supposing there are no cartridges in the gun and it is desired to commence firing, one or more cartridges are conveyed into the throat B of the casing, as indicated in Fig. 7 The cartridges may subsequently be fed in by hand or the hopper N may be put in place. There being one or more cartridgesin the throat B", the gun-barrel is' moved to the rear by means of the handle X, as has just been described, until the gear X passes over the rack Y, allowing the spring C to restore the gun-barrel to the initial position. While this is being done a cartridge is fed above the plates Q and and is shoved home by the breech-block in the operation of closing the ICC breech, and when the breech is closed the gun is either fired automatically or, by hand, as before described. The motion of the gun on recoil and counter-recoil automatically opens the breech. causing the breech-block to withdraw and eject the empty cartridge case, cocks the firing-pin, feeds a fresh cartridge. closes the breech-block, and fires the gun. This cycle of operations is automatically repeated indefinitely as long as the supply of cartridges is maintained.

It will be seen that the various parts are soconstructed that they may bevreadily assembled and dismounted without the use of any special tools. Thus the side B of the casing swings outward about a hinge If", as shown in Fig. 2. Also the end plate B of the casing swings about the hinge b and. is held in place by tenon'b and locked by the trigger-guard U." Thus the interior of the casing containing the breech mechanism is readily accessible. Again, the catch K is connected to the plate B by a bayonet-joint. Again, the spring K steps'in a housing K and may be readily inserted or v removed when desired. Again, the sear J may beplaced in the breech-block or removed therefrom at a single operation: Also the ejector T is held in place by the re siliency of the material of which it is made and may be readily removed. Also the plates Q and Q may be taken out of their bearings by simply removing the loop-spring Q Also the bolt G is attached to the gun by a bayonet-joint. The block H may also be removed from its journal-bearings, and, in fact, all of' -'the various parts of the gun may be readily assembled and rapidly dismounted without the use ofany special tools and without requiring any high degree of mechanical skill. Moreover, it will-be seen that the'various parts are comparatively heavy and ,st-rong and are not apt to get out of order; but if they do get out of order repairs or alterations can be readily made. I

It will be'obvious that various modifications can be made in the herein-described mechanismwhich could be used without departing from the'spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body with a breech-block chamber having intersecting grooves in the, walls, thereof, of a breech block having ribs adapted to slide upward and downward and longitudinally in said .groove's, automatic means for moving said breech-block downward out of engag-ement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun,- means for restoring the gun to'the initial positionon counter-recoil,

means for holding the breech-block back temporarily during the counterrecoil of the gun, and means for restoring the breech-block to the initial position, substantiallyas described.

2. In an' automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body and a breech-blockcham ber provided with grooves, of the breechblock having ribs adapted to slide upward and downward in said grooves and also to slide longitudinally relative to said gun-body, of automatic means for releasing said breechblock from engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the ,gun, automatic means for holding the breech-block in the rear .position, means for returning the gun-body to the initial position, and means actuated by the counter-recoil of the gun for releasing the breech -block,'and means for re.- storing it to the initial position, substantially as described. Y

. 3. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body free to recoil and a recoilspring for restoring the same to the initial position. of a breech-block chamber secured to or integral with said gun-body and provided .with grooves therein, a breech-block having ribs engaging in said grooves and adapted to slide up or down and longitudinally relative to said breech,- block chamber, automatic means for releasing the ribs on said breechblock from engagement with said grooves when the gun nears the end of the recoil, au tomatic .means for holding the breech-block in approximately therear position while the gun-body returns to the initial position, means actuated by the counter-recoil of the gun for releasing said breech-block, and means for automatically moving said breech-block,when released, forward. and then upward to the closed position, substantially asdescribed.

f 4. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body provided with a breechblock chamber having slightly-inclined transverse grooves and longitudinal grooves in the walls thereof, of a breech block having inclined ribs adapted to slide upward and downward in saidinclined transverse grooves and backward and forward in said longitudinal grooves, au-

tomaticmmeansior moving said breech-block downward out of engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, a' spring for restoring the gun to the initial position on counter-recoil, means for holding the breech-block back temporarily d uring th'e counter-recoil of the gun, and means for restoring the breech-block to the initial position, substantially as described.

5. Inan automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body provided with a breechblock chamber having slightly-inclined transverse grooves and longitudinal grooves in the walls thereof, of a breechblock having inclined ribs adapted to slide. upward and downwardin said inclined transverse grooves and backward and forward in said longitudinal grooves, automatic means for moving said breech-block downward out of engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, a spring for restoring the gun to position, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic gun, the combination with a casing with guide-grooves therein, of the gun-body having a breech-block chamber provided with grooves, and guide-ribs on said gun-body engaging said casing, a breech-block having ribs adapted to slide upward and downward in the grooves in said breech-block chamber and also to slide longitudinally relative to said gun-body, of automatic means for releasing said breech-block from engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, automatic means for holding the breechblock in the rear position, means for returning the gun-body to the initial position, and means actuated by the counter-recoil of the gun for releasing the breech-block,and means for restoring it to the initial position, substantially as described.

7. In an automatic gun, the combination with a casing with guide-grooves therein, of the gun-body having a breech-block chamber provided with grooves,'and guide-ribs on said gun-body engaging said casing, a-breech-block having ribs adapted to slide upward and downward in the grooves in said breech-block chamber and also to slide longitudinally relative to said gun-body, of automatic means for releasing said breech-block from engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun; automatic means'for holding the breech- I block in the rear position, means for returning the gun-bod y to the initial position, and'a spring with cam mechanism operated thereby, actuated by the counter-recoil of the gun for releasing'the breech-block and restoring it to the initial position, substantially as described.

8. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body free to recoil and a recoilspring for restoring the same to the initial position, of a breech-block chamber'secured to orintegral with said gun-body and provided with grooves therein, a breech-block having ribs engaging in said grooves and adapted to slide up or down and longitudinally relative to said breech-block" chamber, means for releasing the ribs on" said breech-block from engagement with said grooves when the gun nears the end of the recoil, automatic means for holding the breech-block in approximately the rear position While the gun-body returns to the initial position, means actuated by the with the gun-body free to recoil and arecoilsprlng for restoring the same to the initial position, of a breech-block chamber secured to or integral with said gun-body and provided with grooves therein, a breech-block having ribs engaging in said grooves and adapted to slide up or down and longitudinally relative tosaid breech-block chamber, means for releasing the ribs on said breech-block from engagement with said grooves when the gun nears the end of the recoil, a spring-controlled toe for holding the breech-block in approximately the rear position while the gun-body returns to the initial position, but tripped by the gun on counter-recoil, and automatic mechanism for moving said breech-block, when released, forward and then upward to the closed position, substantially as described.

10. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun body with a breech block chamber having intersecting grooves in the walls thereof, of a'breech-block having ribs adapted to slide upward and downward and longitudinally in said grooves, automatic means for moving said breech-block downward out of engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, meansfor restoring the gun to the initial position on counter-recoil, a pivoted catch for holding the breech-block back temporarily, means actuatedby the counter-recoil of the gun for tripping said catch, and means for restoring the breech-block to the initial position when released, substantially as described.

11.. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body and a breech-block chamber provided with grooves, of the breechblock having ribs adapted to slide upward and downward in said grooves and also to slide longitudinally relative to said gun-body, a cam and mechanism operating same for releasing said breech-block from engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun and for restoring the same to the closed position, a pivoted catch for holding the breech-block temporarily in the rear position, meansfor returning the gun-body to the initial position, and automatic means actuated by the counter-recoil of, the gun for tripping said catch and releasing the breech-block, allowing it to return to the initial position, substantially as described.

12. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body and a recoil-springfor restoring the same to the initial position, of a breech-block chamber secured to or integral with said gun-body and provided with grooves therein, a breech-block having ribs engag-- ing in said grooves and adapted to slide up or down and longitudinally relative to said breech-block chamber, of a cam and mecha-n ICC ism operating same for releasingthe ribs-onsaid breech-block fromengagement with said grooves when the gun nears the end of the recoil and for, restoring the breech-block to the .ing said breech-block to move forward and then upward to the closed position when released, substantially as described.

13. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body provided with abreechblock chamber, of a breech-block adapted to slide upward and downward in and toslide rearward in said chamber, of automatic means for moving said breech-block downward and out of engagement with the walls of said chamber near the end of the recoil of the gun,

14. In an automatic gun, the combination I with the gun-body'and a breech blockvcharnher provided with downwardly-inclined trans-- versegrooves, and also with rearwardly-extending grooves, of a breech-block having ribs adapted to slide upward, and downward in said grooves andalso toslidelongitudinally in said rearwardly extending grooves, of adtomatic means for releasing said breech-block from engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, automatic means for holding the breech-block temporarifly in the rear position, means for returning the gunbody to the initial position, and means actuated by the counter-recoil of the gun for releasing the breech-block, and means for-restoring itto the initial. position, substantially as described.

15. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body free to recoil and a recoil-' spring for restoring the same to the initial position, of a breech-block chamber secured to or integral with said gun-body and provided withdownwardly-inclined, andalso with rear-- wardly-extending grooves therein, a breech block having ribs engaging in,said groovesi -sition while the gun b'ody returns to theinitial position, means actuated. by the counter recoil of the gun forreleasing'said breech-1 block, and a coil-springautoniaticallymoving said breech-blockforward when released, and

block upward to the closed position when said ribs and grooves register with each other, substantially as described.

16. In an automatic-gun, the combination with the gun-body provided with a breechverse grooves and also longitudinal grooves in clined ribs adapted to slide upward and downward in said inclined transverse grooves and backward and forward 'in said longitudinal groov8S,; automatic means for moving said "breech-block downward out of engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, an extractor mounted on the nose of cartridge-case when the breech-block moves initial position on counter-recoil, means for holding the breech-block back temporarily means for restoring the breech-block to the initial position, when released, substantially as described.

17. In an automatic gun,.the combination with the gun-body provided with a breechblock chamber having slightly-inclined trans* verse grooves and longitudinal grooves in the walls thereof, of a breech-block having inclined ribs adapted to slide upward anddownward in said inclined transverse grooves and backward and forward in said longitudinal grooves, automatic means for moving said breech-block downward out of engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, an extractor mounted on the nose of thebreech-block and engaging the rim of the cartridge-case when the breech moves down, a resilient ejector mounted on the breech-block and operated, by the gun on counter-recoil, aspringfor restoring the gun tothe initial storing the breech-block to the initial position, ,when "released, substantially as described.

,with the gun -body provided with a breechverse grooves and also longitudinal grooves in thewalls thereof, of a breech-block havof the recoil of the gun, an extractor mountgaging the rim ot' th'e cartridge-case when the breech moves down, a spring for restoring the gun to the 1n1-t1al, posit1on on counrecoil of the gun, and a spring and cam autothe walls thereof, of a breech-block having in-.

the breech-block and engaging the rim of the down, a spring for restoring the gun to theduring the counter-recoil of thegun, and

'engagementwith said grooves near the end block chamber havingslightly-inclined transposition on counter-recoil, 'means for holding the breech-block back temporarily during the counter-recoil of the gun, and means for re- 18. In an automatic gun, the combination block chamber, having slightly-inclined trans- I ing inclined ribsadapted toslide upward f ,ter recoil, means for holding the breech block back temporarily during the Eountermatically actuated by the latter movement of the gun on counter-recoil for restoring the breech-block to the initial position, substantially as described.

19. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body provided with a breechblock chamber, having slightly-inclined transverse grooves and also longitudinal grooves in the walls thereof, of a breech-block having inclined ribs adapted to slide upward and downward is said inclined transverse grooves. and backward and forward in said longitudinal grooves. automatic means for moving said breech-block downward out of engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, an extractor mounted on the nose of the breech -block and engaging the rim of the cartridge-case when the breech moves down, a resilient ejector mounted on the breech-block and operated by the gun on counter-recoil, a spring for restor ing the gun to the initial position on counter-recoil, means for holding the breechblock back temporarily during the counter: recoil of the gun, and a spring and cam automatically actuated by the later-movement of the gun on counter-recoil for restoring the breech-block to the initial position, substantially as described.

20. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body with a-breech-block' zhamber having slightly-inclined transverse grooves, and also longitudinal grooves in the walls thereof, of a breech-block having in- :lined ribs adapted to slide upward and downward in said inclined transverse grooves and backward and forward in said longitudinal grooves, automatic means for moving said oreech-block forward out of engagement with said grooves near'the end of the recoil of the gun, a spring-impressed firing-pin mounted .n said breech-block and provided with ahead, t spring-catch adapted'to engage said head ind cock said pin during the first part of the Forward movement of said breech-block, with neans operated by the further movement of ;he breech-block for releasing said catch, a iear holding said pin in the cooked position when released by said catch, means for trip- )ing said sear when the breech is closed,means *or restoring the gun to the initial position-on :ounter-recoil, and means for subsequently 'estoring the breech-block to the initial posiion, substantially as described.

21. In an automatic gun, the combination vith the gun-body provided with a breech- )lock chamber, having slightly-inclined transerse grooves and longitudinal groovesin the vallsthereof a breech-block having inclined 'ibsadapted to slide upward and downward n said inclined transverse grooves and backv'ard and forward in said longitudinal grooves," ,utomatic means for moving said breech-block lownward out of engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun,

a spring for restoring the gun to the initial position on counter-recoil, a spring-impressed firing-pin mounted in said breech-block and provided witha head, a spring-catch adapted to engage said head and cock said pin during the first part of the forward movement of said breech-block, with means operated by the further movement of the breech for releasing said catch, a sear holding said pin in the cocked position when released by said catch, means for tripping said sear when the breech is closed, means for holding the breech-block back temporarilyduring the counter-recoilof the gun, and a spring and cam automatically actuated by the later movement of the gun on counter-recoil for restoring the breech to the initial position, substantially as described.

22. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body provided with a breechblock chamber having slightly-inclined transverse grooves and also longitudinal grooves in the walls thereof, of a breech-block having inclined ribs adapted to slide upward and downward in said inclined transverse grooves, and backward and forward in said longitudinal grooves, automatic means for moving said breech-block downward out of engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, a spring-impressed firing-pin mounted in said breech-block, means for cocking same during the early'forward movement of thebreech-block, and forrelcasing same when the breech-block returns to the closed position, a spring for restoring the gun to the initial position on counter-recoil, means for holding the breech-block back temporarily during the counter-recoil of the gun, and means for restoring the breech-block to the initial position when released, substantially as described.

23. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-bodyprovided with a breech- 'block chamber, having slightly-inclined transverse grooves and longitudinal grooves in the walls thereof, of a breech-block having inclined ribs adapted to slide upward anddownward in said inclined transverse grooves and backward and forward in said longitudinal grooves, automatic means for moving said breech-block downward out of engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, a spring-impressed firing-pin mounted in said breech-block, means for cocking same during the early forward movement ofthe breech-block, and for releasing same when the breech-block returnsto the closed position, a spring for restoring the gunlto the initial position on counter recoil, meansfor ,holding the breech-block back temporarily during the counter-recoil of the gun, and a spring and cam automatically actuated by the latter movement/of the gunon counter-recoil for restoring the breechblock to the initial I position, substantially as described.

24. In-an automatic gun, the combination recoil of the gun, a spring-impressed firingwith the gun-body having a breech-block chamber provided with grooves, of a breechblock having ribs adapted to slide upward and downward and rearward in said grooves, of automatic means 'for releasing said breechblock from engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, aspringimpressed firing-pin mounted in said breechblock, means for cocking same during the early forward movement of the breech-block, and for releasing same when the breech-block returns to the closed position. automatic means for holding the breech-block in the rear position, means for returning the gunbody to the initial position, and means actuated by the counter-recoil of the gun for releasing the breech-block, and means for restoring it to the initial position, substantially as described.

25. In an automatic gun, the combination with the gun-body having a breech-block chamber provided with grooves, of a breechblock having ribs adapted to slide upward and downward and rearward in said grooves, of automatic means for releasing said breechblock from engagement with said grooves near the end of the recoil of the gun, a springimpressed firing-pin mounted in said breech block and provided with a head, a springcat-ch adapted to engage said head and cock said pin during the first part of thelforward movement of said breech-block, with means operated by the further movement of the breech-block for releasing said catch, a scar holding said pin in the cocked position when released by said catch, means for tripping said sear when the breech is closed, automatic means for holding the breech-block in therear position, means for returning the gunbody to the initial position, and means actu' ated by the counter-recoil of the gun for releasing the breech-block, and means for restoring it to the initial position, substantially as described. 26. In an automatic gun, the combination with a casing with guide-grooves therein, of the gun-body having a breechblock chamber provided with grooves, and guide -ribs on said gun-body engaging said casing, a breechblock having ribs adapted to slide upward and downward 1n the grooves in said breechblo ck chamber and also to slide longitudinally relative to said gun-body, of automatic means for releasing said breech-block from engagement withsaid grooves near the end-of the pin mounted in said breech-block, means for cooking same during the early forward movement of the breech-block, and for releasing same when the breech-block returns to the closed position, automatic means for holding the breech-block in the rear position, means releasing said breech-block from engagement with said grooves near the end ofthe recoil of the gun, aspring-impressed firing-pin mounted in said breech-block and provided with a head, a spring-catch adapted to engage said head and cook said pin during the first part of the forward movement of said breech-block, with means operated by the further movement of the breech-block for releasing said catch, a scar holding said pin in the cocked po sition when released by said catch, means for tripping said scar when the breech is closed, automatic means for holding the breech-block in the rear position, means for returning the gun-body to the initial position, and a spring with cam mechanism operated thereby, actuated by the counter-recoil of the gun for releasing the breech-block and restoring it to the initial position, substantially as described.

28. In an automatic gun, the combination with a casing with guide-grooves therein, of the gun-body having a breech-block chamber provided with grooves and guide-ribs on said gun-body engaging said casing, spring-impressed guard-plates pivoted on said gun-bod y and projecting into grooves in said casing, and also into said block-chamber, a breech-block having ribs adapted to slide upward and downward in the grooves in said breecl1-block chamber and also to slide longitudinally relative to said gun-body, and to project between said plates when in the closed position, of automatic means for releasing said breech-block from engagement with said grooves in the breech-block chamber near the end of the recoil of the gun, automatic means for holding the breech-block in the rear position, means for returning the gun-body to the initial position, means for feeding cartridges serial/5m above said plates, and means actuated by the counter-recoil of the gun for releasing the breech-block, and means for restoring it to the initial position, substantially as described. 

